#BretWeek: Indy Spotlight – Chris Hero

Earlier this morning, I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking.  It’s #BretWeek, and I need an indy star that wouldn’t get me laughed off the Internet.

For my money, it doesn’t get any better than Bret Hart.  He called himself the Excellence of Execution—the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be.  As a kid, and now as an adult, I bought it hook, line and sinker.  He made a statement, and backed it up in the ring.  He was a role model, and a hero.

I was first introduced to Chris Hero in Ring of Honor.  Hero, who was shunned from ROH for years, was finally getting his shot at the ROH World Championship.  He cut beautifully bitter promos against Ring of Honor, its booker, and its stars – much like The Hitman did when he was hated in the States, but loved in Canada.

I watched Hero grow into a star with Ring of Honor – moving away from CZW, and becoming a world-class professional wrestler – much like the Hitman himself.

I celebrated when Chris Hero got signed to WWE.  To me, he’s a can’t-miss star.  He’s got an awesome look, and an even better moveset.  He’s one hell of a talker, too.  His work as Kassius Ohno in NXT was simply awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jE4yFTgH9c

Now, Hero is back on the indies, and he’s tearing it up.   Ring of Honor, Dragon Gate USA, Combat Zone Wrestling and so many more are already proving that WWE’s trash can be their treasure.  If you missed Hero’s first run on the indies, you should make it a point not to miss his return.

When Bret Hart got dumped by WWE, he had a brief run in WCW, but never got that “oh yeah? Well screw you” redemption run.  Hero’s is just starting.  Right now, it’s just on the indies.  I wouldn’t be surprised if his next step is TNA, or Jeff Jarrett’s yet-unnamed new project.  Wherever he goes, he’ll be working off that Hitman-sized chip on his shoulder.

Hero’s Hitman run is yet to come.  Whether it’s as the hero – or as a bitter heel who’s ready to conquer the world –remains to be seen.

@AndyMillerJMS

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